> "Duelist from another world, welcome to the Different Dimension Duel System."
"Huh? What?"
In a groggy haze, You Ming, who had been sleeping soundly, vaguely heard a strange voice.
> "I am your navigation spirit. You can call me—"
> "I am your guide."
Before he could even make out the first voice clearly, its mechanical tone was completely overridden by a majestic yet melodic female voice.
Instinctively, he tried to open his eyes, but an inexplicable wave of fatigue washed over him.
With deep blue and violet as the base, accented with orange and white, a beautiful, butterfly-like figure flitted past his vision—then all that remained was a darkness as deep as the abyss.
> "No need to force yourself awake. Rest well."
Yet in this abyss, there was no fear.
A cool but gentle sensation touched his forehead, leaving behind only a sense of peace.
> "I will remain by your side... until the end of all things."
It felt as if an eternity had passed, and a strange, weightless sensation stirred from deep within.
"What a weird dream…"
You Ming opened his eyes.
He felt like he had slept for ages, but the drowsiness still clung to his mind like a fog.
"So sleepy... should've gone to bed earlier."
Stretching with a yawn, he sat up from his bed.
"Mom, what's for breakf—"
That question, etched into his DNA, was cut off by the sight before him:
A dim, windowless room completely sealed off like a prison. Though spacious, it was eerily empty.
By candlelight, he could clearly see sharp, menacing carvings etched into the walls.
The large door had been forcefully destroyed and completely blocked by rubble and giant stones. Only a trapdoor in the floor seemed to offer a way in or out.
Weapons and armor lined the shelves: swords, bows, spears, shields—and even magical staves, strange books, ornate necklaces, and coats made from the pelts of monstrous creatures found only in fantasy worlds.
"This… isn't my room."
A powerful sense of danger surged up, completely at odds with both memory and common sense. He immediately turned toward the mirror in the room.
In the mirror, a pale-faced boy with a ruby necklace stared back. Handsome, yes—but there was no way this was the face from his memories.
This kind of situation… what was it usually called?
You Ming racked his brain.
After a long moment, a term surfaced from the depths of his memory.
"Transmigration…"
> "You're finally awake."
Before his overwhelmed brain could finish processing, a sudden voice snapped him to attention.
He instinctively looked toward the source—and saw a man.
Dark brown skin made him instantly recognizable. His monk-like robe hinted at religious devotion, though the solid gold cross hanging on his chest added a mysterious, arcane touch.
But all of that was secondary.
The light reflecting off his bald head made You Ming squint.
"…Whoa. Bald guy!"
"… …"
"Sorry."
Seeing the man's silence, You Ming apologized, but the man just shook his head.
"It's fine."
Though he said that, the man still pulled a Middle Eastern-style headscarf over his head.
"You seem alert—and strong. That puts me at ease."
"…So who exactly are you?"
After a brief silence, You Ming asked the question.
Honestly, he wasn't comfortable suddenly dealing with a complete stranger while still in a daze with no preparation.
But he had no choice. This man might be the only lead he had to understanding where he was and what was going on.
"I'm just a traveler... a penitent on a path of harsh training, trying to atone for his sins."
You Ming frowned.
That was clearly not the answer he wanted.
No name, no title—that was as good as saying nothing at all.
But then...
> "If we had more time, I'd gladly chat longer. But right now, we don't have that luxury. Get ready."
"What do you mean?"
The monk didn't respond. Instead, reality did.
Boom.
A sudden explosion rocked the area, the tremor sending a jolt through You Ming's chest.
"What was that outside…?"
"Enemies."
The monk glanced toward the blocked main door, his expression unreadable.
> "The gears of fate have begun to turn. A lonely king, awakened in the present, must return to his homeland—and this journey must not be interrupted."
"…Can you speak in normal human language?"
> "You must save this world."
Okay… That he understood. Not.
"Me?"
You Ming pointed at himself.
"Save the world?"
Are you kidding me!?
"I mean, do I look like someone who can save the world?"
It was all so sudden.
First he transmigrated to some unfamiliar place, then a stranger bombarded him with cryptic nonsense before suddenly dumping the fate of the world on his shoulders.
"What am I, some Isekai-chosen hero or something?"
Despite his sarcastic tone, You Ming couldn't help but glance at the weapons on the wall.
A magnificent greatsword.
A massive axe embedded with a skull.
A wand adorned with gemstones.
He didn't know their names, but with these "legendary artifacts" around, maybe his starting gear wouldn't be that bad?
But just as that thought crossed his mind—he noticed something odd.
The weapons were… moving?
Wait, no—they were melting.
Before he could make sense of it, a brilliant light burst forth and blinded his vision.
> "I know you have your doubts. But right now, only you can do this."
The calm voice echoed, then slowly faded away.
By the time You Ming came to, everything around him had vanished.
The weapons, the monk, the ornate furnishings of the room—all gone.
Even that mysterious monk had disappeared without a trace.
> "Young man, may the Millennium Scale aid you… The world is in your hands now."
"?"
Staring at the now empty, bare-bones room, You Ming was dumbfounded.
"Seriously? After all that dramatic talk, not even one weapon left behind?"
His inner voice raged like a flood.
"At least leave me a sword, dammit!"
Wait—he had left something behind.
On the empty table were three items: a solid gold scale, a white bone-decorated wristband, and a stack of cards.
Only the golden scale stood tall and steady. Beside it, the cards rested quietly.
Just one look, and You Ming nearly burst out laughing in disbelief.
Bang.
Tap tap tap.
The tremors and chaotic footsteps echoed again, pounding like a heartbeat, painful and urgent.
"So, what—this scale turns into a holy armor? The wristband becomes a power gauntlet? Or am I supposed to save the world by playing cards…?"
He had meant to be sarcastic—but as the words came out, something clicked.
"Saving the world... by playing cards."
That… might actually work?
Not just that weird dream—even the stuff appearing now was oddly familiar.
"Cards… the scale…"
What did that guy call this thing again?
"The Millennium Scale… Millennium Item?!"
He sprang up and scrambled to the table.
The vortex-like card backs sparked a memory from deep in his mind.
"Duel Monsters…"
And what gear comes with it?
His gaze shifted to that white wristband.
Trembling hands picked it up and strapped it on. In an instant, a sharp, blade-like device unfolded from it.
It looked like a weapon—but certain features revealed its true identity.
The grotesque skull served as the card deck slot. The jagged "bone blade" extending outward held the spell, trap, and monster zones.
"A duel disk?"
With all the pieces in place, the truth of this world—its very name—became clear.
"…Yu-Gi-Oh!?"
Damn!